The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 81, 1887.
Special Correspondence Palatka NEWS.
The widely circulated rumor to the ef-
feet that Mr.. Manning's resignation was
brought about by a rupture between the
Secretary and the President has been eff
fectually disposed of by the publication
of the correspondence between them
upon the subject. The truth is doubtless
as Mr.. Manning states in his letter. He
found that the close attention nece ssary
in the discharge of his official duties was
task beyond his strength. His friends,
who had observed that his health was be-
ing affected by his close application,
have continued to urge that he should
resign, and it is known that he has had
the matter in contemplation for some
time past.
The air is filled with conjectures in re-
lation to the new Secretary of the Treas
ury, and very large number of names
have been suggested as persons likely to
receive the appointment. 1t has been in
timated that the President seriously con-
templates offering the portfolio to his
old law partner, Wilson S. Bissell, who
is said 10 possess qualities which emf
nently fit him for the position.
The President has been somewhat sur
prised at the number of candidates that
have appeared for the five positions as
Commissioners in the Inter State Com
merce Commission. He is determined
to satisfy himself about the capacity OF
the men before making the appoint
ments.
Notwithstanding the fact that but a
limited time remains to the present Con-
gress, and several of the appropriation
bills are as yet Enacted upon, there is no
real foundation for the report that an
extra session of Congress is likely TO be
called. The best informed members of
Congress believe that no session Will be
called, as nothing but failure TO pass
| the regular appropriation bills before the
| 4th of March, would necessItate 1t. The
| unsettled question of a treasury surplus,
| important as it is, would not, in itself,
occasion the calling of an extra session,
as the surplus will be largely absorbed
| before the opening of the session in De-
| cember in redeeming the remainder of
| the three per cent. bonds, and in putting
$45, 600, 900 into the sinking fund, To be
used in redeeming the four per cent.
| bonds.
The historic city of Alexandria, which
| it will be remembered was, in ante bel
| lum days, celebrated as the principal
ship-building point in the South, bids
| fair to regain her former prominence.
| The old ship yards, which have been for
| so many years idle, Will soon be trans
formed into a scene of activity such as
was probably never equaled, even in the
palmy days of the past. The yards have
been purchased by the Arrow Steamship
Company, of New York City, who will
put a force of 5000 men at work upon
the LIST day of April. The company will
at that time commence the construction
of the largest transatlantic iron steam
ship that was ever built upon this side of
the Atlantic. The vessel will be $40 feet
in length, with a tonnage of 5000. 10
the construction of the vessel every effort
will be made to get the greatest possible
| speed. The vessel, when completed. will
| constitute one of a fleet of fifteen ocean
racers which will be built by the COM
pany.
The Democracy of the District has sus-
tanned a serious loss in the death of a
| lIme-honOred leader in the person of
John f. Norris, Esq. This patriot had,
| for more than quarter OF a century up
to the time of his death, been annually
elected to the presidency of the Jackson
Democratic AssOciatiOn-an organization
at the National Capital known and re-
spected by public men of all shades OF
politics. MIR. Norris was man who, by
his sterling worth, genial manners and
| sincerity of heart, endeared himself TO a
large circle of friends, including within
| it men prominent in both branches of
/ Congress and elsewhere in official life.
HIS depth of conviction, untlinching
courage, disregard for his own personal
interests, and earnestness in the cause,
made him pre-eminently the recognized
leader OF the District Democracy. He
was a fnrcible and impressive speaker.
logical reasOner, able lawyer, and ripe
scholar. On the day of his funeral the
courts adjourned, and the judges, ac
cOmpanied by the entire bar, of which
for more than forty years he had been
a member, attended the funeral in a
body. The various Democratic associa-
tions also attended i'll a body, and the
funeral cortege for that of a private
citizen was the largest that the city has
witnessed for years. This brief sketch
| of this widely known and respected
man Is given for the eyes of such OF
your readers as may have served your
constituency in Congress or otherwise
been in public service at the Nations
Capital, and made the friendship OF
the deceased. ii.
The Old Order Good Enough.